Improvement in the mode of connecting the rods of lightning-conductors



i. E. STRONG.

Lightning Bod. "-No. 2,056. Patented April 19, i841.

it f,linnn-munie UNITED STATES PATENTV OFFICE'.

JUSTIN E. STRONG, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN THE MODE OF CONNECTING THE RODS OF LlGHTNlNG-CONDUCTORS,

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 2,056, dated April 19, 1841.

To all whom t may concern:-

Be it known that I, JUSTINE. STRONG, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in the Connection ofthe Rods of Lightning-Oonductors, and the application of the discharging-points thereto; and that the following is a iull and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which, taken in connection herewith, form my specification, setting forth the principles of my improvement, by which it may be distinguished from other inventions of a like character, and such parts or combinations thereof as I claim, and for which I solicit an exclusive privilege to be secured to me for fourteen years by Letters Patent.

Figure 1 represents an elevatiorrotthe ends of two adjacent rods of a lightning-conductor as generally constructed and applied to a building, in which it will be seen that the end A is bent at right angles, pointed, and passes through a hole formed through the end B, which is hammered out or bent round for the purpose. The whole is secured to the wall of the house by a staple, C, Figs. 1 and 2, driven into the joints between the bricks, or into the Wood-work just above the discharging-point, as seen in the drawings. To this method of fastening there is a serions objection, the nature of which is as follows: It often happens that the staple becomes loosened, owing' to the action ofthe wind on the rod, or from the same not having been properly driven. When this is the case the lower part, B, of the upper joint will hang oft' or away from the ragged point D more or less, and by destroying the connection ot' the joints the power of the rod as a conductor of the electrictluidis often materially if not wholly impaired.

My improved method of connecting the joints so as to remedy the defect above described, and at the same time to render the rod a more perfect conductor, owing to a better or closer union of the parts thereof, is exhibited in Figs. 3, 4, 5, and consists in hammerin g out or attening the ends of the rods A B and placing one upon the other, as seen in the drawings.

The point D is of copper, and is formed with a square or other proper shaped shoulder, a, and in the rear ot' this shoulder isa short shank, b, the same being represented in section in Fig. 3, which exhibits a square iron rod, and in elevation in Fig. 4, which shows a twisted copper rod. The shank b passes through a suitable hole in the attened part of the rod A, and thus the rods are secured together 5 and should the staple C, Figs. 3,4, 5, be loosened, the bars cannot become separated from each other, so as to render the rod inefficient as a conductor of the electric duid.

The staple I use is cast of copper or brass and has but one leg, a, as seen in Fig. 5, which is driven into the wall, while the other part serves as a hook, which clasps and secures the rod.

WVhen the lightning-rod is of iron I apply copper points thereto, which, being lessliable to oxidation than iron points, are much preferable to the latter.

I claim- The mode hereinbefore set forth of connecting thejoints of lightning-conductors, and constructin g and applying the dischargin g-points thereto--that-is to say, by forming each point with a shoulder and a shank in rear of the same, the said shank having a screw cut on the same and passing through one of the rods and being screwed into the other, the whole being arranged and applied to a building, substantially as described.

In testimony that thefabove is a true description of my said invention and improvement I have hereto set my signature this 18th day of March, in the year 1841.

JUSTIN E. STRONG.

Witnesses:

EZRA LINCOLN, J r.,- GEo. D. DANA. 

